As the cooler months roll in and summer crops wind down, winter is the ideal time to give your garden soil a bit of TLC. Healthy soil is the foundation of a thriving garden – whether you’re growing veggies, fruit trees, or lush flower beds.
Here are MyNoke’s top five tips for improving soil health in your garden this winter:
- Add Organic Matter (Your Worms Will Thank You)
Worms and microbes need food over winter too! Add compost, leaf litter, or even better - vermicast (worm castings) to boost soil life. Vermicast is nature’s fertiliser, packed with beneficial microbes and nutrients in just the right form for your plants. It also helps hold moisture and improves soil texture. You can mix it into garden beds, top-dress your lawn, or use it when planting winter crops.
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Keep Soil Covered
Don’t leave your soil bare and exposed to winter rains - it leads to erosion and nutrient loss. Plant cover crops like mustard, oats or lupins, or even just mulch with straw, wood chips, or autumn leaves. A simple layer of mulch can protect soil life, prevent weeds, and slowly break down into food for microbes.
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Go Easy on the Digging
It’s tempting to do a big winter tidy-up, but too much digging can disrupt the delicate life under the surface. Instead of turning over your soil, try layering compost and organic matter on top and letting the worms do the work. This no-dig approach protects the structure of your soil and helps build healthy, living layers over time.
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Check Your pH
Your plants need the right soil conditions to take up nutrients. Many home gardens in New Zealand are too acidic, especially if you’ve added a lot of compost or pine bark mulch. Use a simple soil pH test kit from your garden centre. If your pH is too acidic, adding lime (in moderation) or vermicast over winter can help get things back in balance for spring planting.
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Feed Your Soil, Not Just Your Plants
Winter is a great time to focus on feeding the soil, not just throwing fertiliser at plants. Healthy soil acts like a sponge - soaking up water, storing nutrients, and supporting plant health. Use natural soil builders like vermicast, compost, seaweed teas or worm wees. Think of your garden soil like a living ecosystem, not just a pot to grow things in.
Winter is for Soil Building
Whether you’ve got a balcony veggie patch or a full backyard garden, winter is a perfect time to slow down, build up your soil, and prepare for a thriving spring.
Want to give your garden a boost? Get in touch to find out how MyNoke's worm castings can be added to your Winter soil, to prepare for a productive spring in the garden. Or click on this link for a list of stockists near you.